somehow washington never gets the message. and here we are 30 years later on the brink of another crisis on new year's eve still addicted to spending money. now, we are over $16 trillion in debt. president reagan's words and principles remain true today, and they were true when he said them. the problem is spending money. mr. speaker, the american people know this. why doesn't the federal government and congress understand it? why? because washington is obsessed with spending someone else's money. it's the arrogance of power that congress spends the people's money without regard to how this obsession affects those very people. when american families are in debt, they sacrifice, they cut spending, whether that means taking one less family vacation or fewer presents under the christmas tree. homes across the fruited plain are feeling the pain of the economic squeeze in their wall etc. and they adjust accordingly. -- wallets and they adjust accordingly. that's what happens when times are tough. families don't have a limited credi